Basketball game apparatus



June 10, 1958 R, I, P LITE 2,838,308

BASKETBALL GAME APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1956 INVENTOR ,m- *4? r 1: 1/3 27 42 (2a 15 k; 27 ATTORNEYS This invention relates to a game apparatus. More particularly, it relates to a basketball game apparatus having means for removing the ball from under the goal basket after it passes through the goal basket and being adjustable so that the goal basket can be supported in more than one position with respect to the base.

The game apparatus of this invention contemplates a new and improved miniature basketball game which may be used indoors or outdoors and provides a recreation device whereby persons can engage in a game simulating basketball, requiring skill in ball placement on the part of the players. In addition; the invention provides a novel structure forremoving balls from under the goal basket that have passed therethrough. Furthermore, the apparatus provides for interchangeable positioning of the goal basket with respect to the base ofthe apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide a game apparatuscapable of being changed in its arrangement so as to provide different conditions of play. A

A still further object is to provide pin and eyelet connections for the game structure for effecting ease of changeability to different conditions of .play.

A further object is to provide a simulated basketball game of skill, so arranged that balls played to the basket are automatically removed from under the goal basket after passing therethrough.

Still a further object is to provide a support structure having interchangeable points of support.

An additional object is to provide a collapsible baske ball game which is portable and requires minimum storage space.

Additional objects of this invention will become apparent from an examination of the description and'claims.

The invention will be described further in connection with the accompanying drawings which are to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and do not constitute limitations thereof. a

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the game apparatus arranged so that the goal basket is supported by an upright frame member connected to one end of the base;

,: nited StatesPatentO with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the basketball game apparatus 10 arranged so as to utilize a backstop or backboard 11, such as a wall or other flat upright surface. The basketball game apparatus 10 has a flat base frame 12, rectangular in construction, having two rods'13 spaced parallel'to each other, and parallel cross members 14, one at each end of the rectangle and one arranged centrally withrespect to the rectangle, all joints being spot welded so as to make a rigid base framework. The cross members 14 have extensions 15 which protrude a short distance beyond the limits of the rectangle so as to provide pins on the long sides of the rectangle. 1

Operatively connected to'two of the pins 15 is an upright goal basket support frame 16 having two elevating rods 17 disposed at an acute angle with each other. The lower end of each rod 17 is formed into an eyelet 13 which pivots about pin 15 of cross member 14. Centrally located and comprising part of support frame 16 is a central cross member 19 which is spot welded to each spaced elevating rod 17. The ends of cross member 19.

extend beyond the elevating rods and form pins 20. At the upper end of support frame 16 is a bracket 21 which is made up of aplate 22 which spaces the elevating rods at the top of the support frame. Bracket plate 22 has welded thereto a channel-shaped back-up plate 23 having extension wings which are welded to plate 22 so as to provide a vertical slot 24 between the back-up plate and the open face of the channel. This arrangement defines a vertical slot centrally located with respect to the from the base and through the face of the rectangular base Figure 2 is a side elevational view-of the game appa- The invention will be described in detail in connection 12 equidistant from the ends thereof. This construction of the ball retriever frame presents a framing surface which is at approximately a 45 angle with respect to the base 12 and the upright frame 16.

The ball retriever frame 25 is made up of two outside rods 26 having eyelets 27 at each end thereof, rods 26 being disposed at an acute angle with respect to each other and lying in the same plane. Parallel with central cross member 14 of base 12 and central cross member 19 of frame 16 are two framing rods 28 which lie intermediate the looped ends 27 of outside rods 26. At right angles to frame rods 28 aretwo rods 29, parallel to each other and sospaced as to define three nearly equal areaswithin the plane of the ball retriever frame 25. Rods 28 and 29 provide an internal framework for frame 25. Eyelets 27 at one end of the ball retriever frame are operativ'ely connected to one set of pins of the cross members 14 and the eyelets of the other end of the ball retriever frame are operatively connected to the central set of pins of cross member 19. This framing arrangement provides a support for holding the upright support member 16 in position and also provides an internal frame arrangement against which a ball passing through the goal basket can bounce and be propelled in a direction away from the basket.

Attached to the bracket 21 is goal basket 30 having a rim 31 in the form of a broken circle (see Fig. 4). At

the point of separation of the circle are downwardly pro- 7 33 so that, when the rim is closed to form a circle, the

Patented June 10, 1958 I bent portion 35 overlaps bent portion 34 forming a downwardly extending tang 36 with the prongs thereof parallel to each other. The tang is so proportioned as to size that it fits into slot 24 to provide a meansfor supporting the goal basket parallel to rectangular. base 12 and the playing surface, and positioning the basket directly over the plane of .the angularly disposed ball retrieving frame 25. This tang construction effects a support which keeps the goal basket in a fixed position when the tang is in the slot in the bracket, thereby preventing swaying when a ball is deflected therefrom.

Attached to the rim 31 is a net 37 which forms the goal basket 30 and provides a meansfor impeding the speed with which the ball drops through the goal basket.

It will be observed that the rods 17 and 26 leading to eyelets 18 and 27 are suificie'ntly flexible so that the upright frame 16 and the ball retriever frame 25 can be removed from the pins and 20 by lateral motion of the rod portion adjacent to the eyelets. Thus, the eyelets of these frames may be sprung into engagement or out of engagement with the pins over which the eyelets fit. In this manner, the upright frame 16 can be detached from the end of base 12 and moved and attached to the central cross member of base 12. In this assembly of the apparatus, the ball retriever frame is removed from its connection to the central cross member of base 12 and is attached to the end of base 12. Thus, the basketball game apparatus is changed from one which can be used againsta backstop to one which may be freestanding.

It is obvious from the construction of the apparatus of this invention that, by detaching the lower eyelets of the ball retriever frame from base 12 and removing the goal basket from the bracket, the apparatus can be folded, as shown in Figure 3, so as to provide eflicient and easy storage of the game. This feature of folding of the device also facilitates easy assembly of the game when playing is desired.

The basketball game illustrated in Figure 1 provides for playing the game and making use of a backboard to place the balls into the goal basket, whereas, the game as shown in Figure 2 provides for play to the goal basket in a free-standing position. The object of the game is to bounce a ball against a surface, such as a floor or lawn, so that upon rebound the ball drops into the goal basket, thereby testing the skill of the player. As the ball passes through the basket, its speed is retarded by the net as the ball drops vertically downward due to gravity against an inclined frame. The angle of the inclined frame and the force with which the ball gravitates through the goal basket determine the speed at which the ball is propelled away from under the basket.

It will be appreciated that, although the angle of provides a desirable slope to the ball retrieving frame, still other angles may be used which will produce equivalent results. The ball retriever may be constructed of any type of framing as long as the plane upon which the ball bounces has a reasonable degree of angularity with respect to the base and the upright frame.

The game may be played by using any size of basketball which bears a relation to the size of the opening in the goal basket. For example, it has been found that a rubber basketball having a 4% inch diameter when used with a rim diameter of 9 inches provides a combination which tests the skill and ability of the players. Two or more may play as opponents and sides can be chosen as in team play. The distance from the point of play to the goal basket may be determined by the teams or players before playing the game; for example, it has been found that distances of 6, 8, or 10 feet from the goal provide an interesting game.

in playing the game, the object of the game is to bounce the ball on a surface upon which the base rests so that the ball upon rebound will pass through the goal basket for a score. If a backboard is used. as shown in Figure 1, a goal scores one point. If the ball goes into the basket without the help of a backboard, a goal scores two points. If the game is played as shown in Figure 2, it has been found that provision for a free-throw line placed one-half the distance from the goal to the player makes the game interesting and tests the players skill. For example, if the playing distance is 8 feet, the freethrow' line is best placed about 4 feet from the goal scores two points.

' ways with the rules being decided by the players before the game is played. For example, bonus shots may be given to any player who scores three consecutive goals, say, one free shot. Two free shots might be given to a player scoring five consecutive goals. If a score is made on free shots, the score would count but the shot would not. Such variations as these have been found to make an interesting game of skill.

The miniature basketball game disclosed in this invention can be played either indoors or: outdoors. Furthermore, it makes an excellent party game in which everyone can participate. Any number of ways can be devised for playing the game, depending upon the number of players, time available, and the apparent degree of skill of the players involved.

Although the invention has been illustrated using a wire framework throughout, it is to be understood that any similar construction which will provide the same function may be used. It is also to be understood that the invention is limited only to the scope of the appended claims, and various changes may be made in details of construction without department from the invention or sacrificing any advantages thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved basketball apparatus comprising a base frame including a pair of substantially horizontal rods arranged in spaced and parallel relation, a plurality of rod-shaped and substantially horizontal cross members arranged in spaced and parallel relation with each other and transverse to said pair of rods, said cross members being secured adjacent their ends to said pair of rods and extending outwardly therefrom so as to form projecting pin portions at the ends of said cross members; an uprig-ht frame including a pair of spaced upright rods having a pair of curved eyelet portions at their lower ends, respectively, for engaging, in fitting relationship, the projecting pin portions of one of said cross members on said base frame, a transverse bracket connecting the upper ends of said upright rods and having means thereon for supporting a ring-shaped goal basket in substantially parallel relation to said base frame, a rod-shaped and substantially horizontal intermediate cross member connected to said upright rods intermediate the ends thereof, said intermediate cross member extending outwardly from said upright rods so as to form at the ends of said cross member a pair of projecting pin portions; and an inclinedframe including a pair of outer inclined rods curved at their lower ends, respectively, so as to form eyelets for engaging the projecting pin portions of a cross member located on said base frame forward of the cross member engaged by said upright frame, said outer inclined rods being curved at their upper ends so as to provide eyelets for engaging the projecting pin portions of the cross member on said upright frame, a pair of substantially horizontal and spaced cross members secured at their ends to said inclined rods and arranged transversely with respect to said inclined rods, and a pair of inner inclined rods arranged in spaced and parallel relation with said outer inclined rods and being secured to the cross members of said inclined frame, said inner inclined rods being positioned beneath said goal basket so as to provide a ball retriever portion for said apparatus.

2. An. improved basketball apparatus comprising a base frame including a pair of substantially horizontal rods arranged in spaced and parallel relation, a plurality of rod-shaped and substantially horizontal cross members arranged in spaced and parallel relation with each other and transverse to said pair of rods, said cross members being secured adjacent their ends to said pair of rods and extending outwardly therefrom so as to form projecting pin portions at the ends of said cross members; an upright frame including a pair of spaced upright and upwardly converging rods having a pair of curved eyelet portions at their lower ends, respectively, for engaging in fitting relationship the projecting pin portions of one of said cross members on said base frame, a transverse bracket connecting the upper ends of said upright rods and having means thereon for supporting a basket hoop in substantially parallel relation to said base frame, a rod-shaped and substantially horizontal intermediate cross member connected to said upright rods intermediate the ends thereof, said intermediate cross member extending outwardly from said upright rods so as to form at the ends of said cross member a pair of projecting pin portions; and an inclined frame including a pair of outer as to form eyelets for engaging the projecting pin portions of a cross member located on said base frame forward of the cross member engaged by said upright frame, said outer inclined rods being curved at their upper ends so as to provide eyelets for engaging the projecting pin portions of the cross member on said upright frame, a pair of substantially horizontal and spaced cross members secured at their ends to said inclined rods and arranged transversely with respect to said inclined rods, and a pair of inner inclined rods arranged in spaced and parallel relation with said outer inclined rods and being secured to the cross members of said inclined frame, said inner inclined rods being positioned beneath said hoop so as to provide a ball retriever portion for said apparatus.

References Cited in the file of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,574,201 Lynch Feb. 23, 1926 1,612,937 Mitchell Jan. 4, 1927 1,765,269 Hatley June 17, 1930 1,924,757 Shisoff Aug. 29, 1933 2,060,938 Johnson Nov. 17, 1936 2,125,679 Longstreet Aug. 2, 1938 2,130,820 Trumbull Sept. 20, 1938 2,194,779 Albach Mar. 26, 1940 2,379,572 Gibson July 3, 1945 2,473,908 Rubin June 21, 1949 2,658,495 Elliott Nov. 10, 1953 2,732,954 Janonis et al. Jan. 31, 1956 

